Judy C. Pearson is Associate Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and Professor of Communication at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. She has co-authored 30 text and trade books. Judy has served as the President of the Central States Communication Association, the World Communication Association, and the National Communication Association. She met Paul E. Nelson at a basic course directors meeting, married him, and the couple has six children. The two have been producing basic course books together ever since.